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University Daily Kansan Thursday, February 24, 1955
Culture Provided Also by Music, Art
A Connecticut high school teacher last week complained to his colleagues that students don't read these days.
As reasons, Edwin E. Smith listed football, art, music, television, part-time jobs, and "shimmying and shaking to 'Ricochet Romance.'"
Although Mr. Smith was speaking of high school students in particular, these distractions from reading probably are stronger among most college students than with the younger group.
T
Mr. Smith's opinion that students skimp on reading is not a new one, but his angle on art and music probably would cause a riffle in the fine arts department. He complained that students spend too much time playing the piano and painting scenery. What would he think of KU with the notes floating out of Strong and Hoch and all the scenery painting the art students do?
He may be right that some television programs and dancing to "Ricochet Romance" don't take the place of a good book, but does he expect students who have to help with their own finances to sit at home with a book instead of taking a part-time job?
Mr. Smith doesn't seem to have a very realistic outlook. And he isn't listening to his radio, if he has one, because "Ricochet Romance" dropped off the hit parade months ago.
One thing Mr. Smith left off his list was assignments for other classes—although his argument against scenery painting and piano playing might fall into that class. It's surprising he didn't cry that students spend too much time on physics, geography, or some other subjects.
“An American In Boston” might have upset him even more had he known that it was a student production with many hours of book-reading being “wasted” on practice for the operetta.
He probably would have frowned upon students who attended the ballet last week or the Minneapolis symphony early this month as giving up too much time from a good book. More than likely the students who attended were giving up time from studying.
The Quack club and Tau Sigma, swimming and modern dance clubs whose recitals will be presented in the next two weeks, would be beyond the limit for Mr. Smith. Luckily, "Ricochet Romance" isn't on the Tau Sigma program.
One wonders if Mr Smith knew what was going on around him while he was in high school and college or whether he has just forgotten. The majority of KU students certainly wouldn't meet with his approval.
There is no argument against the fact that reading good books is a profitable and enjoyable experience that shouldn't be missed, but what about the music and art—that's culture too, you know. For some students school offers music and art appreciation for which they might not have as great a chance later.
More persons have an opportunity to sit down to read a book than to paint scenery or play the piano when they are out of school. High school and college is the time to take advantage of a variety of things rather than only one.
As for "Richochet Romance," who wants to shimmy and shake when he's 50? —Lee Ann Urban
Topeka citizens are probably longing for the good oil' days of stoves that burned wood and furnaces that burned coal, now that they are in the middle of a gas failure.
This back and forth weather, from spring to winter and from winter back to spring, certainly keeps life from becoming monotonous.
Let's hope Theresa Brewer finds her baby soon, cause we're tired of the song.
7
Letters
There is a certain irony in the situation of any Englishman in the United States. A n d, as Moriarty probably said to Holmes, there is some treachery afoft. For quite 24 hours the Englishman is isolated from the outer world and prevented from both receiving and dispatching vital letters patent because of the insistence of the United States in fighting the Wars of the Revolution long after they have all finished. Other wars have disturbed communications, but this one is strangely bloodless, though no less devastating.
Dear Sir:
One refers, of course, to the vindictive celebration by the U.S. Post Office of the birthday of that well-known Briton, George Washington. By all means give the good fellows a well earned rest. After all, it must be uncomfortable work riding those ponies all day long. But why cannot they take a respite on some day less embarrassing to the Englishman/in exile? For example, Walt Kelly would perhaps recommend "Coney Island Wash Day" or "African Lantern Day." And I myself would sponsor a "Lord Cornwallis Day."
But an Englishman like myself is utterly mortified by the celebration of George Washington's birthday. One admits that he displayed all those virtues of independence and ambition which we in England are so happy to encourage in our own race and thwart in others. But Washington, after all, did enough damage to the British family of nations to have satisfied every generation of Americans for ten thousand years.
Alternatively, one suggests that you celebrate something really worthwhile. In the foggy Isle, for example, we yearly burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes, together with handfuls of fireworks, on November 5th. "Remember," Remember the Fifth of November" shout the children as they eat gingerbread and the Guy crackles. For even tiny tints in Britain know that Guy Fawkes was a very wise man: he tried to blow up Parliament. And in those days it was your Parliament, too.
Now Guy Fawkes attempted something truly worth celebrating. But George Washington, you must agree, did something infinitely worse, eagad!
B. M. Dunning, Surrey, England
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room, KU 251 Ad Room, KU 376 Member of the Inland Daily Press association. Associated Collegiate Press association. National journal vertising service. 420 Madison Fl on NY. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in college). Lawyers' Karte Kansas, every afternoon during University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Entered as second class material by 177 at 11:30 a.m. under act of March 3, 1879.
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d,丹.Karen Hilmer, Jack Lindberg
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C. M. Pickett
"Henry come quick. Our little boy is home from college."
To Cheer Or to Jeer Which Will It Be?
Last week an editorial was written about the incessant jeering and booing of the K-State students at the KU-K-State game. Those who read the editorial or attended the game probably were disgusted, but just passed it off as "typical of those K-Staters."
Next week the KU-K-State game will be here in the KU fieldhouse. What will you do? Will you do the same thing for which you criticized K-State?
It's difficult to predict what you will do at such an exciting, close game as this promises to be, between two rival teams. Perhaps this is a good time to "work off" frustrations incurred during a week of classes, and give vent to all the hoots and jeers you want.
In fact, it would be a very good time. You have a good audience. Not only do you have the old grads, K-Staters, and everyone else in the fieldhouse to listen to you, but you have all the basketball fans all over the nation listening to the game.
After the demonstration by K-State last week, another such demonstration by KU would give the rest of the nation a very strained opinion of Kansas. You are representing not only yourself, not only your school, but your whole state, in your actions during such an event as this game and the dedication of the fieldhouse.
But it all goes deeper than this worry of the opinion of others. It is not a show of school spirit to boo the other team; it turns into an ugly mob feeling that you as a rational college student should not want to be associated with. It is the kind of ugly mob feeling that you study in psychology and sociology, but perhaps you don't recognize it because you are pulled into it and become a part of it.
But why do you allow yourself to be pulled into it—because you are pulling for your team and want them to win? If you think you are contributing to team spirit, then look around you at the people who are doing the most hooting and jeering. They are the same ones who are not cheering for the team. No cheer just hoot.
Which will it be—jeers or cheers? —Jack Fisher
Women's Spring Fashions Appear to Be Ghastly
Spring fashions for women are ghastly. Just look in any fashion magazine for evidence of the truth of that statement. It's hard to say just who is to blame—Paris, New York or possibly Rome—but it really doesn't matter. The effect is the same—ghastly.
It seems this year that women are to be flat-chested, that their waists have either disappeared entirely or have been lowered to the abdominal region, and that the total effect is either misshappen or skimeless.
Gone is the classic line of the tailored suit which conformed to normal body proportions. In its place we find the "boxy look." It's boxy all right—straight lines and corners. Bosoms, we are told, are "flatter and higher." Too bad someone can't think of a way to eliminate them entirely. Such a shame too, after all the time and money the fashion industry has spent in promoting the bust-line. Waistlines in their natural places are taboo. They are either five
inches higher or lower than God intended them to be. Some designers prefer to over-look the waist entirely.
For decoration we have bows, large ones in unlikely places. And then of course there are beads, which have been very good all year long. What purpose beads serve has not been explained, but they have a tendency to hang.
If the picture presented hero sounds alarming—it is. Fortunately for the well-being of KU men, most KU women will be back in sleeveless blouses and full skirts this spring, complete with bust-line, waistline and more or less healthy good looks.